Igniting mixture



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CLAREE'GE I. B. HENNING, OF WILIEIIIGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO E. I. DU FONT Lid/ARE.

NElfiG'URS 6a COIJEPANY, OF WILIiEINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF IGNITING MIXTURE.

1E0 Brewing.

a certain new and useful Igniting lvlixture,

oi which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to priming mixtures or propellcnt explosives, and com-. prises a priming charge containing as an es sential cbnstituent tctranitropentaerythrite.

in pruning mixtures containing, for ex-' ample, lead sulphocyanide, an oxidizing salt having a high oxygen content such as pota sium chlorate. and trinitrotolucne, it has be n found that it the amount of the last mentioned substance be increased beyond 7%, the violence of the combustion of the mixture frequently drives the metal part of the primer from the head of the shell. It has been proposed to substitute tetranitromethylimiline for the trinitrotoluene in priming" mixtures of the hind described above, bu" proposed primers are more isantthan those containing trinitrotoluene have found some'vhat objectionable amount. What is desired is a sus-- l vne rather than a severe blow.

ording to my invention tetranitropem thrice is used in place of trinitrotolin primers ot the above type. 'letranb erythrite has notable advantages in I; is'much sensitive to friction or ssion than any of the compounds menabove: as a result the proportion in the priming mixture can be in- Wl lUllt making themlxture too e "ietranitropentaerythrite has the ier advantage of being, little ail'ected in rate of homing by changes in tempera- "imcrs containing this ingrediornily and are less ailected by in temperature than many other ners no in use. p 1 Priming compositions made inaccorda'nce :ey invention may be illustrated by the .Jing examples Parts by wright.

application filed November 17, 1929. Serial No. 424,691.

The proportions of the several ingredicuts of the priming mixtures may vary considerably; the proportion of tetranitropem taerythrite present should preferably be from about to 10% of the'total mixture.

In connection with the use of modern progressive burning smokeless powders, it is desirable to have a priming mixture which Will give the maximum energy and igniting power. The chemical and physical properties of tetranitropentaerythrite are such that the increase in energy, heat and flame delivered per unit of weight will be much I greater than that given by any substance.

heretofore used in priming compositions.

Priming mixtures of the kind above described are extensively used in connection with small arms ammunition.

I claim: 1. An igniting mixture for small arms ammunition containing tetran1tro-pentaerythrite, said mixture becoming ignited but not detonating when struck lightly, and being adapted to ignite a propellent explosive.

2. An igniting mixture comprising potas sium chlorate, antimony sulphide, and tet ranitropentaerythrite.

3. An igniting mixture comprising potassium chlorate, antimony sulphide, and from about 5 to 10% of tetranitropentaerythrim.

4. An igniting mixture. comprising potas-- sium chlorate, antimony sulphide, lead sulpho-cyanide, and tetranitropentaerythrite.

A. n igniting mixture comprising 50 parts of potassium chlorate, from about 20 to 17 parts of antimony sulphide, from about 25 to 23 parts of lead sulpho-cyanide, and from about 5 to 10 parts of tetranitropentaerythrite.

6. An igniting; mixture comprisingtetranitropentaerythrite and an oxidizing salt having a high oxygen content.

In testimony whereof I amx my signature.

CLARENCE I. B. HENNING. 

